Mariscos El Veneno

Reviews

• Cindy R.

  star star star star star_border 16 July 2026

  I had heard many good things about this place so I decided to go with my husband to try it out for the first time today. We really enjoyed the food. We feel it's reasonably priced for the amount of food we are given, which were large portions. Our waiter was very nice and helpful, and the food was so delicious! We will definitely be returning and recommending to others.
  The reason I gave it 4 stars, instead of 5, is because of how small the location is. Many people go and unfortunately, there is no room to wait for a table. So you are either stuck waiting outside or by the door entrance which gets very cramped and looks unprofessional.
  Above all, it's a great place! But due to its popularity, don't expect to be seated right away.

• Army S.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 13 July 2026

  BLUF: This place is BYOB and at least one member of the waitstaff is either racist or sexist.
  
  My coworker and I ate here on a business trip. The complimentary tostadas Cesar brought out were good, but the extra hot sauces/salsas were disgustingly hot. We weren't warned how hot they were and we weren't given any water for at least another 5 minutes. Even when I was coughing into my paper towel napkin. I tried to order a daiquiri and that's when we were informed that they don't serve alcohol (we didn't check Yelp first and went there on the recommendation of a hotel employee who didn't let us know it was BYOB). The menu says there are cocktails and shows at least one drink with a beer bottle, so I consider this deceitful. I said I still wanted the virgin daiquiri, but I never got it.
  
  My coworker left to find a gas station for beer and our food came out while he was gone. We both ordered a tomato-based soup that had crab legs in it. The soup was okay, but the crab legs were the reason I ordered it. It came out fast and hot. But I noticed that my dish had only had two halves of the crab legs while his had three. The utensils I'm used to for breaking apart seafood weren't brought out. I struggled to open the crab legs and pull out the meat with my fork and bare hands for several minutes. Eventually my coworker came back after walking six blocks and never finding a gas station with booze. FINALLY the seafood utensils were brought out after my coworker sat down. I guess I'm chopped liver.
  
  Since they for some reason don't split checks, I had to give my coworker cash for my part of the check. It was a good thing I had any cash on me since I sometimes don't. There was an item on the bill that we didn't recognize since the menu and everything else is in Spanish. I looked it up and we were charged for soggy garlic bread that we didn't ask for.
  
  I could get over the BYOB policy. I'm sure they would have a license to sell booze if they could. I could get over the no splitting checks policy, though I've never encountered it even on all the work trips I take and eat out in large parties. But the reason I won't recommend this place is the better treatment my coworker received over me. I don't know if it's because he's male and I am not or because he's mixed race and is sometimes confused for a Hispanic person and I am not; but he received an extra portion of crab legs for the same dish and the seafood utensils were brought out just after he sat down after I had struggled to sloppily eat the crab legs for nearly 10 minutes. The drink I ordered never came out, but I wasn't charged for it either. This experience was unacceptable. The only reason I'm giving an extra star is because the tostadas were good despite the portion I ruined with hot sauce and because the food came out quickly. For three halves of crab legs, the price was very good at about $18, but I only got two. Even if that racist/sexist employee is fired, I still wouldn't go here.

• Jose C.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 12 July 2026

  We were fortunate enough to find a table right away when we went. It seemed like a table they weren't planning to sit anyone at, but they offered it to us and since it was getting late and we were starving we happily accepted. The service did take for ever. Probably a good 20 minutes before we were able to place our order.
  
  It is BYOB and ordered a Michelada mix. A very decent sized glass ready for me to pour my Pacifico beer in it. It tasted delicious and was probably the highlight of my meal. They do start you off with a complimentary tostada de Ceviche along with a very very very hot salsa to go with it. It was tasty, but boy did it burn. I also ordered my usual Pina rellena, but was very disappointing. It's half a pineapple cut open with a mixture of seafood mixed with their crema sauce. On the side you get a very tasty rice, garlic bread, fries and a side of salad which I never ever touch. Unfortunately the Pina rellena had way too much mushrooms, cheese and imitation crab than anything else. Personally, I've had some that would blow this Pina rellena out of this water. Some have come with real crab legs, octopus, calamari, and mussels. This one didn't.
  
  Sadly, I won't be returning here. I really wanted to like it here, but their very slow service and their mediocre food won't change my mind.

• Linda A.

  star star star star_border star_border 9 July 2026

  First time here, was referred by a friend. It was ok! The appetizer they bring out seafood tostado was really good, the orchata was good & the grab legs were good. Everything else we got was ok. the raw muscles were not cleaned good had rocks in it, that set the tone for the rest of the food. I got the shrimp cocktail it was ok but needed more flavor. It tasted like the plain shrimp you get from jewel with the shrimp sauce nothing fancy and it was expensive for a small $11. Everything on the menu was expensive. The shrimp was not devined so that grossed me & hubby out a bit. The salmon my kids liked, I didn't try it was also $25 but came with plain rice, few fries & American salad - no dressing on the side (Boring sides nobody touched) The place was really hot, music was way too loud we couldn't hear each other talking and the service is horrible. The atmosphere is very fast like, not a place I would bring a date or company for the first time too. We don't drink but it's a BYOB type place, saw everyone bringing in cases of alcohol.

• Mar G.

  star star star star star 8 July 2026

  When you come in, they serve  you with a complimentary tostada de Ceviche and a really hot spicy salsa! But it tasted so darn good! I ordered Camarones ala diabla (the less spicy ones). I also ordered natural Orange Juice served in a Margarita glass.. which I thought was fancy.. this place is awesome. For the price of the food it was great! I was full already with just half of my order!! Customer service is amazing also!! The waiter was so attentive and so nice.  They also have live music! The music is Mexican regional.  And they played really good. Hopefully will be coming back to this place whenever I get a chance!